For years now different bars and judges have waffled over just how far lawyers can go with online researching of potential jurors: are they allowed to read Facebook pages? Twitter? LinkedIn pages? Some lawyers have searched wholeheartedly, making the most of the new social landscape the internet has carved out, learning what they could through online inquiries. Others wouldn't let themselves look, wondering if such practices amounted to an invasion of privacy. The ABA settled the matter in April of 2014, after two years of deliberation, concluding that researching Facebook posts, Twitter posts, and similar information which is publicly available constitutes ethical research. READ MORE >

When I was an associate at a large international law firm, I shared a secretary with a highly distinguished, old guard partner who brought in substantial business throughout the course of his career, was a tremendously effective litigator, and did not use a computer. Ever. He did not even keep one in his office. Our secretary would print out his emails in hard copy for him to read. He dictated all his replies, and even dictated all of his briefs and motions, often over the phone when he was on the road for a case. And while you may know of similar attorneys who do things in the ''traditional'' way (i.e., before there were computers), chances are that the vast majority of attorneys at your firm, and indeed the vast majority of current practicing attorneys, are at least somewhat computer literate, if not downright computer savvy. READ MORE >

For many law school graduates, their first taste of practicing law comes from working as an associate at a law firm. What is life as an associate attorney like? For those people who have opted to join a large firm, the first year of practice is probably filled with both excitement and stress. There are many wonderful perks that come with being an associate at a big firm (prestige, high salary, etc.) At the same time, however, there are many potential pitfalls that junior–level associates will want to be aware of and avoid. In this article I have included some advice for new lawyers for surviving your first year of practice at a law firm. READ MORE >

You have spent many hours planning your job search with your recruiter, picking the right firms, and researching them with every spare moment. You have interviewed like crazy for months, while staying up late at night trying to hold down your current job. But it's all been worth it: You finally got the perfect job offer at the firm of your dreams. Congratulations, time to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the new change in your career. But don't get too comfortable, you still have a lot of important challenges ahead of you if you are going to make this new job a success. READ MORE >

On Friday April 9th 1999, Leona Vogt, a highly regarded legal career consultant in the Boston area, shared with us her thoughts on "making the most of your law firm experience". Her presentation was packed with insightful career advice for associates who are planning to stay as well as associates who are planning to leave their firms. READ MORE >

In a quiet pool near a silent grove, Narcissus fell in love with a reflection of his youthful face, and died. Not a complicated plot. Curiously, while short, this story is recounted numerous times in Greek mythology, and in a variety of interesting forms. Obviously, the myth must have communicated something important in Greek culture. With the proper understanding, it can provide vital information to us in our time as well. My hypothesis is that this illusive character from Greek mythology presents us with a profound mystery and potentially an important insight into the human psyche. Understanding the deeper message presented by Narcissus' challenges, and failure, can have a direct impact upon our understanding of ourselves, and upon our productivity and career satisfaction-ultimately, perhaps more than that. READ MORE >

So your resume and cover letter were written up all nice, you managed to avoid embarrassing yourself during three separate interviews, and you were granted an offer to work at a new law firm. You may be thinking that the difficult part is over, but having gotten your foot in the door, you now have to push it open and walk through without tripping over the gag wire if you hope to have a long and fruitful career at this new firm. Starting a new position can be just as taxing and stressful as the job search that got you that position, especially considering the politics and the bizarre cultures that are inherent to some firms. Figuring out how to get through the rocky first weeks will prove important in making the kind of first impression that has people thinking "partner potential" instead of "first to go." Here are a few helpful hints to help you come out on top: READ MORE >

So you've taken CivPro, CrimPro, ConLaw, and Corps. You know your way in and around the codes, cases, and statutes (you always check the pocket part). You've mastered the research memorandum and oral argument in moot court. You know the Blue Book rules down to the last punctuation mark. BAR/BRI review books were your only reading material for months (okay, maybe you perused the sports page or the living section for a quick break). But now, you are going in to the firm every day, you are expected to be a "junior associate," and you have no idea what that means. Here a few tips to carry you through the day-to-day grind until you can prove you really were paying attention in law school. READ MORE >

In 2002, the rate of change in the Boston legal community was staggering. Hill & Barlow and Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar both announced that they would be closing their doors after more than 100 years in business, and virtually every major firm laid off associates. READ MORE >

Accepting mediocrity in yourself is the only real way to achieve balance in your life. If you are a lawyer in private practice and you want to practice law while raising a family, then you need to be a mediocre lawyer. READ MORE >

It never fails to amaze me that most of the candidates who come to me for help have worked and excelled, often for decades, at the highest level in demanding educational programs and in demanding law firms. Yet when it comes to the last step — the process of finding the legal position that will be the source of their livelihood, the setting for most of their waking hours, and the determinant of where their career will take them — many attorneys balk at spending the time or effort to do the work that will ensure their best opportunity. And much of this work can only be done by them. READ MORE >

Ed Koch served as mayor of New York throughout the 1980's and was famous for employing the phrase ''How'm I doin'?'' Throughout his administration, he would walk up to strangers on the street and pose this question. For a politician like Ed Koch, the answer was of course critical to his survival. READ MORE >

Larry Stybel's main thesis was: if you want to be successful lawyer today, mere ''competence'' is insufficient. With a large number of attorneys still graduating from law school, competence has become a commodity. But if you establish credibility outside your firm, you are no longer a commodity; rather you are a lawyer who brings value to the table (i.e. your services will be in demand). Larry emphasized that it is important to establish ''credibility'' outside of the firm even if this is not the message your firm is sending you. If your firm is telling you to focus on servicing clients, you should still make sure to ''get out there''. READ MORE >

Working in the law, like working in most other professional fields, entails a certain amount of customer service. Some might say the customer service aspects of the job are the most important, especially if you want to get ahead in a large firm. READ MORE >

Remember Prince...the Artist Formerly Known as Prince...who is now, apparently, Prince once again? I saw him today. I was finishing up minute 46 on a treadmill at the New York Sports Club on the Upper West Side of Manhattan when, lo and behold, he appeared before me clad in purple, heels, and big hair. READ MORE >

In the nine years that I have been in the recruiting business, I have spoken to literally hundreds of associates about their careers. Through these conversations, I have noticed a number of repeating themes (concerns about how to achieve work/life balance, decreasing interest in partnership, etc.) READ MORE >

"Responsiveness and knowledge of the market were my favorite things about working with my..." Read moreMary ThomasHarvard Law School, Class Of 1994Placed at Prickett, Jones & Elliott, P.A.

"[The] status update was helpful to have, and you were pretty accessible over the phone...." Read moreSangita DattaUCLA School of Law, Class Of 2015Placed at Loeb & Loeb LLP

"My Chicago recruiter had good insight and was helpful throughout the process."Richard StanleyBaylor University School of Law, Class Of 1999Placed at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

"My recruiter helped me achieve my life-long goal of working in a big law firm. When every..." Read moreMarnie KudonVermont Law School, Class Of 2005Placed at Locke Lord LLP

"I loved the responsiveness of Romina, and the weekly reports were super helpful, just..." Read moreFaatima SeedatUniversity of Southern California Gould School of Law, Class Of 2017Placed at Helton Law Group